Francis Coppola Diamond Merlot 2006

Purchase Francis Coppola Diamond Merlot 2006

Gold Medal Winner - San Francisco International Wine Competition

• Five Stars - “A top seller with consistent quality.” — Cheers
• Francis Coppola Diamond Merlot named Top 10 “Wines by the Glass” and ranked in Top 30 “Most Popular Merlots” — Wine & Spirits

The 2006 vintage is special because it marks the first year we made our Diamond Collection wines at our new home in Sonoma County.

The Coppola family purchased  the Sonoma winery in March, making it possible for us to crush right here on the premises  when  harvest  was  upon  us.  Having  our  very  own  winemaking  facility not  only  heightens  the  quality  of  our  wines,  it  fills  us  with  a  sense  of  pride  and accomplishment,  and  fulfills  our  longtime  goal  of  being  able  to  give  our  hallmark Diamond wines a home.

WINEMAKER’S NOTES

With Merlot the objective is to create a wine that has structure and complexity, but soft, smooth tannins.

We find that sourcing fruit from several different appellations works best to give us a Merlot which exudes multiple layers of flavors and a nice seductive texture. Grapes that come from Napa provide weight, sweet fruit flavors and  the  intense  aromatics  of  fresh  berries  in  our  wine.  Sonoma  fruit  contributes natural  acidity  to  create  more  balance  and  finesse.  Monterey  County  grapes provide concentration, which is the result of the well-drained sandy loam soils that characterize the region.

The 2006 growing season was long and cool, allowing the grapes to hang on the vine and mature longer. As a  result,  this Merlot delivers exceptional concentration and impressive length. To enrich the color, we blend in small amounts of Syrah and Petite Sirah. Then, the wine is aged in small French oak barrels, which lend lovely notes of sweet vanilla to this elegant, full-bodied Merlot.

TASTING PROFILE

Appearance: Dark purple-red
Aromas: Cherries, blueberries, dark chocolate
Flavors: Plums, blackberries, currants, vanilla
Appellation: California
Blend: 92% Merlot, 6% Petite Sirah, 2% Syrah
Alcohol: 13.66%
Barrel Regimen: 14 months in French oak

Purchase Francis Coppola Diamond Merlot 2006

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Francis Coppola Diamond Claret 2007 -- How did we "raise the bar" on our new Claret? Click here to see what winemaker Corey Beck has to say. As of last year, we’ve been able to include estate-grown Merlot and Cabernet Franc in the blend, which also includes Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa, Sonoma, and El Dorado counties. The small amounts of Malbec and Petit Verdot we add help to strengthen color, weight, and structure.Our Claret is always elegant, but this year it’s a true show stopper; lush with a beautiful tapestry of smooth tannins, intense flavor, and seductive aromas. When paired with classic dishes such as beef stroganoff, leg of lamb or potato gratin, you can create a sublime dining experience.Tasting ProfileAppearance:  Deep crimsonAromas:  Blackberries, plums, and vanilla creamFlavors:  Wild berries, cherries, spice, and mochaAppellation: CaliforniaBlend: 82% Cabernet Sauvignon,7% Petit Verdot,4% Merlot, 4% Malbec, 3% Cabernet FrancAlcohol: 13.7%Barrel Regimen: 16 months in French oak   Click . . .

Bianco Pinot Grigio 2008 -- Francis Coppola grew up with wine on the family table because his grandfather and uncles madehomemade wine in the basement of their New York apartment. Using grapes that had beenshipped in by train car from California, the family was able to make wines in simple concrete vats.Francis Coppola Presents Bianco Pinot Grigio 2008 is a light, crisp white wine that’s refreshingand versatile. Invite friends over and serve Bianco with appetizers, pair it with light lunch fare,enjoy it at dinnertime with seafood or simply pour yourself a glass to sip on a warm afternoon.WINEMAKER’S NOTES• The grapes for this wine come from two regions: the Pinnacles Bench in Monterey andClarksburg just outside of Lodi. Pinnacles Bench fruit is influenced by cool coastal conditions,while our Clarksburg grapes develop more ripeness because of fertile soils and a warmerclimate. When blended together, we create a wine with full, ripe flavors and balanced acidity.• Named for the grey color that the grapes turn at full . . .

Francis Coppola Diamond Zinfandel 2007 -- Why do we add Petite Syrah to our Diamond Zinfandel? Click here to have winemaker Corey Beck tell you why. Winemaker’s NotesOur Diamond Zinfandel is an expression of several unique appellations and one incredible vintage. From our Hog’s Canyon vineyard in Paso Robles comes fruit that was highly concentrated as a result of dry summer temperatures that exceeded 95ºF. At the other end of the appellation, we sourced from a vineyard comprised of gravely clay loam soils similar to those of Australia’s Barossa Valley. This fruit was blended with grapes from our Sonoma County vineyards, which typically provide very high-quality fruit that ripens evenly and exudes immense character and flavor. Finally, we added an extra layer of complexity by blending in a small amount of Petite Sirah. The resulting wine has a solid structure and mature tannins to give balance to Zinfandel’s inherently “jammy” nature.Tasting ProfileAppearance: Deep purple garnetAromas: Strawberry jam, briary blackberries, toasted . . .

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